Ibadan (Nigeria): Graduates of the Pan-African University Life and Health Sciences Institute (PAULESI) have been charged to deploy their knowledge and skills to build ‘The Africa we want’.
Prof. Mubo Sonibare, Director of PAULESI, gave the charge in Ibadan on Saturday during the fifth day of the University of Ibadan’s (UI) 77th Convocation ceremonies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PAULESI is domiciled at UI for the West Africa region.
She urged the graduates to return to their home countries as innovators, problem solvers, and ambassadors of Pan-African unity, in pursuit of achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Sonibare said their training, funded by the African Union and development partners, was intended to empower them to transform Africa’s health, agricultural and scientific landscape.
She announced that 73 Master’s and 33 PhD students graduated from PAULESI in 2025, describing the programmes as fully sponsored and designed to promote continental integration, multilingualism and applied research.
“The institute, domiciled in the University of Ibadan, for the West Africa region, offers programmes in reproductive health, medicinal plant research, vaccine production, plant breeding, sports science and environmental management, among others.
“PAULESI’s model allows students from diverse African countries to study together, conduct research, address local problems, and acquire entrepreneurial and historical knowledge critical to Africa’s development,” she said.
According to her, the graduates must go and fulfil the vision of Africa we want in 2063.
Meanwhile, UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, announced that UI had 124 students earning Postgraduate Diplomas, 22 earning Master of Philosophy degrees, while 2,690 and 273 secured academic and professional Master’s degrees, respectively.
Adebowale said the degrees represented a public attestation of the graduates’ competence, research capacity and character, noting that UI has continued to lead in postgraduate training in West Africa.
He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to innovation, academic excellence and international competitiveness, adding that UI’s rising global ranking reflected its steady progress.
He urged the graduates to apply their expertise to Nigeria’s health, technology, governance, agricultural and business challenges.
Adebowale congratulated all graduates, urging them to embody integrity, responsibility, and excellence as they transition into advanced roles in society.
One of the graduates, Dr Lekan Ogunlowo, who completed the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at the UI School of Business, described his experience as very rewarding.
He said the programme strengthened his ability to operate effectively in the business world.
“Business, generally, is guided by some principles, and until you are very much aware and knowledgeable in all the principles and skills, there are some things that you will not be able to do perfectly well,” he said.
Ogunlowo, the Chief Medical Director of Zenith Care Hospital, Ibadan, advised prospective students to consider postgraduate training to enhance their skills and professional performance.